Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The trouble with getting a box set for my kindle is I never
stopped reading between books. I actually read the whole set in two days.
Pulling my nose out of the kindle came only when I got to the end of Vol IV!

I don't normally read modern gothic, or gothic at all, but I
thought I'd give this series a try, and I was not disappointed. I've already
bought Volumes 5 & 6!

The first book, The Illusions of Eventide almost lost me at
the beginning. It starts off with a primo #1 jerk about to off himself.
Obviously, he didn't, as he was telling the story, but still.... Because I was
settled on the sofa, with a fresh cup of coffee and a snuggly cat, I decided to
keep reading, and was introduced to a cast of characters that were and are some
of the most interesting folk around. By the time I finished Book 1, I could
hardly wait to get into Book II to find out what happened. Alas, Book II went
in a different, though connected direction. I'm hoping Books 5 & 6 bring us
full circle and tie up the loose ends ;-)

These stories are told by the characters, each chapter is by
a different character, some chapters go back in time, most are modern. I enjoy
this style of story telling, and had no problem keeping up as Ms. Cradit did a
great job of telling us who was speaking, chapter-by-chapter. The world of
gothic New Orleans is expertly crafted as the families Deschanel and Sullivan
work to solve, and end, the Curse their ancestress, Brigitte placed upon them
shortly after the War Between the States.

It has been many years since I've read Anne Rice, and I'm
not sure how accurate my memory of her books are, and these books take place
primarily in New Orleans and surrounding area, but I am reminded of Ms. Rice's
books – in a positive way. Make no mistake, Ms. Cradit tells her own story, and
she does it well. But, if you are a fan of Anne Rice, I truly think you will
enjoy these books.

Volumes 5 & 6 await in my Kindle, so please forgive me
for not writing more here, I have important words to read, curses to end,
friends who are calling for my attention.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

This is not Middle Earth, this is modern day Scotland,
complete with cell phones, as well as fae and druids and magic!

Eilidh (Ay-lee) is a young fae, and has been banished from
the kingdom, her life forfeit if found within it's borders, for being who she
is. For having a magic she doesn't understand, and that is forbidden. She
doesn't go far, but settles in the town of Perth (north of Edinburgh). She
learns to live on her own, and disguise the fact she is fae—mostly she stays
away from humans as much as possible. Until she meets Munro.

She smells a terrible evil come into her town, and murders
most heinous are committed. She finds herself somehow linked to a human, a cop,
and decides to trust him. In the meantime, she finds out more about the
terrible evil, and tries to warn her kingdom, but they want nothing to do with
it—or her. It becomes apparent that Munro also has magic, and is a Druid.

Her father does see her, and gives her some information that
helps, but basically, she and Munro are on their own until the end when she
finds other fae who share and practice the same magic she has. They too, are
outcast, but choose to help.

As a human, Munro falls in love with Eilidh. It becomes
necessary for them to bind to each other in order to defeat Cridhe (Creed) and
his terrible evil – that is a lifetime commitment for both of them, and she
will live for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It is not a snap decision,
and once made, it cannot be broken. Munro is willing.

This story is complete, but it is the first in a 6 volume series.
I look forward to reading volume II, Azuri Fae.

This is Historical FICTION. If you want it to follow
history, shop elsewhere. If you want a fun read set in a long ago space, enjoy!

Yes, there were/are historical inaccuracies, BUT IT'S
FICTION! Yes, there were a few places where modern words and phrases jolted,
but over all, it was a fun and light read.

There isn't a great deal known about Kiya, but there is
some. If you're a stickler for accuracy in fiction, well, wander on down the
aisle, my friend. If you can suspend your disbelief, you just might be
pleasantly surprised at the tale. Hamstead makes Kiya a Hebrew woman named
Naomi, for starters, rather than the more or less accepted Nubian. This gives
her a lot of room for culture clashes and storyline. (Being Hebrew also makes
her, in this instance, a slave. Yes, I know, that's been pretty well debunked
by historians, but it plays well in the story.)

If you're looking for an historical romance, I think you
might be a tad disappointed in the book. There is love in the book, and hate,
and jealousy, but I don't think it would qualify as a romance. (If it had, you
probably wouldn't be reading my review, because I probably wouldn't have
finished it.)

Naomi is the favored daughter of her father, and is educated
as his son is educated. When Horemheb comes to Thebes to choose a virgin to
marry the Pharaoh, he chooses her sisters. Naomi volunteers to go. Akhenaton
wants a Hebrew wife because his God, Aten, has said that Hebrew women are pure,
and that a Hebrew wife will give him a son and heir—Tutankhaten.

Naomi is given a new name, Kiya, and made a wife of
Akhenaton, a man she has been raised to view as evil, a man who is ill and
deformed (possibly Marfanes disease), and a man she learns to love and respect.
All is not peaches and cream in the royal palace, though, and Kiya must tread
lightly and with cunning if she and her son are to survive. None of Pharaoh's
sons survive their first night, but young Tut does.

Given the time and cultures in which she was born and
raised, Kiya's behavior is not altogether unbelievable. The Hebrews did not
treat their women any better than the Egyptians treated theirs, especially in
harem situations. Women were property, and were to produce heirs. Period. If
they were intelligent and educated that was fine, as long as they knew their
place, and did not become a threat to their husband/owner.

Kiya is intelligent, educated, and strong-willed. She will
do anything for her husband, and for her children.

I did not find this book as engaging as the two volumes by
Drury about the Whitmans. Possibly because much of the same territory was
covered; possibly because I had hoped to find more about Eliza Hart Spalding,
his first wife, and her thoughts and contributions, and possibly; because I
don't think I liked old Henry all that much. Still as a history of the opening
of the Oregon Country, as a history of the early pioneers, this book was
fascinating, and worth the time to read.

Drury was both an historian and a minister, so he brings a
special insight into what these early pioneers had to up with put. This well-written
book was published before the two volumes on the Whitmans, and during the
intervening time, Drury uncovered new information. In this book, he states the
idea that Spalding proposed to Narcissa before Marcus, and was refused, was
false. In the later books, he found information to verify that. (I would love
to find a copy of Eliza's diary of the overland journey the Spaldings and
Whitmans made together. How did she feel, what did she think, every time
Spalding looked at Narcissa? She knew about the prior proposal, what did she
think of being 'second choice'?)

There are many illustrations and photos in this book that
were not available during the time of the Whitmans. This book contains
information somewhat different from the other one about the massacre. Whereas
the Whitmans spent their time with the Cayuse, the Spaldings were with the Nes
Perce. Spalding was fiercely loyal to 'his' Nez Perce, and resented
interlopers. And he had the right idea, apparently, of teaching them in their
language, of teaching them to farm rather than follow the game trails all year,
of "civilizing" them. He and Eliza are well thought of by the Nez
Perce this day. While I don't think we would have ever been fast friends, I
hold a great deal of respect for both Henry, and Eliza, and his second wife,
Rachel.

If you're a history buff interested in the Oregon Country
and how it was opened to the emigrants, I recommend this book. This book, like
the ones on the Whitmans, uses footnotes not end notes. A big plus in my mind!

Sunday, December 6, 2015

This book is two novellas, Red Earth and Bois de Sioux. They
are about men who survived Vietnam to come home to families, nightmares, and
eventual healing.

What is it like to suffer PTSD? Can one work through it?
These men did, with the help of their Native heritage, friends, and fellow
vets.

Red Eagle is a powerful writer, and he wrote two powerful
stories. I'm not an aficionado of Vietnam books, but this one is one I'll read
again. And buy more copies for friends, especially my brothers and sisters who
need the healing that Red Eagle gives.

These stories heal. And are not just for 'Nam vets, but for
anyone who has seen combat either in a war, an inner city, or a trauma room.

Red Eagle will take you to Hell, he will show you the way
home, through the pain, the anguish, the distrust, the nightmares, until you
are once again where you need to be. Every combat vet needs to read this book.
The family of every combat needs to read this book.